Europe Trivia: Dublin

The Phoenix Park is the largest enclosed urban public park in Europe. Measuring 712 hectares, it has a walled circumference of 16km and has been home to a herd of wild Fallow deer since the seventeenth century.

The world's longest row of Georgian houses, running from the corner of Merrion Square down to Lesson Street Bridge, was sliced in two by the decision of in the early 1960s to demolish part of the row and replace it with a modern office block.

Dublin boasts the first purpose built Parliament building on College Green now the Bank of Ireland.

Founded in 1830, it is the fourth oldest scientific zoo in the world. “Slats” the first lion used for the newly-formed MGM studio was born at Dublin Zoo, Ireland on March 20th, 1919.

Phoenix Cricket Club, founded in 1830, is the oldest club in Ireland and the second oldest in the world after Mitcham Cricket Club, in Surrey England.

The All Ireland Polo Club, Phoenix Park, Dublin was founded in 1873 by Horace Rochfort of Clogrenane, which makes it the oldest polo club in Europe.

O'Connell Street is Dublin's main thoroughfare. One of Europe's widest streets, it measures 49m (160ft) in width at its southern end, 46m (150ft) at the north, and is 500m (1650ft) in length.

In 1759 Arthur Guinness signed a 9000 year lease on a disused brewery at St. James’s Gate. Now 10 million glasses of Guinness are enjoyed every day in over 150 countries worldwide.

Saint Valentine is most likely a composite figure similar to Saint Patrick. However, his remains are in a cask in White Friar Street Church, Dublin.

George Bernard Shaw bequeathed the royalties of his play "Pygmalion" (upon which "My Fair Lady" is based) to the National Gallery of Ireland. He is also the only person in the world to have a Nobel Prize (for Literature) and an Oscar.